We're 6 months old!

On Monday, the girls turned six months old. Can you believe it? They get cuter and cuter every day. Jillian is cutting her first tooth. She's been a trooper. I keep telling her that someday she'll be able to eat Qdoba with those toothers and it will be all worth it! :)

Jillian has also had her hair in a ponytail for the first time. It is so adorable. Her hair on top is about 4 inches long already.

Both the girls have enjoyed their newest toys - the exersaucer. We've borrowed two, so they can both play at the same time. They'll play, then one will take a break and watch her sister play. It's so fun.

Here and there and everywhere

Since recovering from the sickies, the girls have learned some amazing new tricks. I know they change daily, but for two weeks they weren't themselves and so now, all of the sudden, they're happy babies again with lots of new tricks up their sleeves.

First of all, Lauren rolled over (from her tummy to her back). And Andy actually got a picture of her in the act. These are pictures of her in process and then after. She was pretty proud of herself.















Jillian is still discovering her voice. If you thought she screamed a lot before, you should hear her now. I think she's got the range of Mariah Carey. It's really something (that's the best word I can think of for it). Sometimes it's super cute and sometimes it just hurts your ears.

Both of the girls have successfully taken cereal. We tried the rice cereal and neither of them really liked it. So my friend, Cassie, suggested oatmeal. I'm sure it was a combo of being more ready for it (we took a 2 week break) and prefering the taste of the oatmeal. They both really like it. So the adventures of solids are well on their way.

This pictures is actually of Lauren trying a little sweet potato, made by mommy. We just microwaved the potato and I mashed it up with some formula. Wa-la! Gourmet sweet potato for my sweet potato.

The girls have also grown like crazy. Lauren lost a little weight when she was sick. But Jillian is still growing and gaining weight like crazy. You know the rule, keep your baby in their baby seat until their one or 20lbs? Like the two should happen around the same time? Well, at 6 months, Jillian is nearly 20lbs. I take them to the doctor next week and I'm anxious to see the official weigh in.

I had my mom take this picture of me with the girls, because they've about outgrown their "Mommy loves me" and "Daddy loves me" shirts (which are among my favorite in their 3-6 month clothes), and I needed to make sure and get a picture of them wearing them. Plus, I hardly EVER get my picture taken with them. Funny how that works.

The last picture is of our poor puppy, Josie. She's such a good girl. We get annoyed at the constant clip-clopping of her nails on the wood floors, so the other night we actually tried putting socks on her. I know, we're horrible.

Gag me with a diaper!

Last week, Jillian randomly threw up and then went on with the day as if nothing was wrong. I chalked it up to acid reflux and thought nothing of it until Thursday afternoon when I was feeding the girls and Jillian had a dirty diaper that smelled like nothing I've ever smelled before. While Jillian rid her body from one end, Lauren rid hers from the other. Friday morning, she woke up and vomited in her bed. Lauren didn't stop vomiting until Monday afternoon and I can't tell you how many diapers, pajamas and sheets we've gone through while facing this vicious bug.

I'm 99% confident it was the Rotavirus and let me tell you, it's not for the faint of heart.

Even today (a week later), they are still dirtying diapers and recovering from lost appetite and painful diaper rashes.

Mommy has about lost her sanity in the process, but I feel that I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. I have to thank my friends and family for their help and encouragement. Especially my friend Melissa, who today gave me permission to stop being so hard on myself about trying to be a supermom/wife in the midst of it all. I really needed to hear that.

I snapped a few pictures of the sickies over the weekend. It was really so pathetic. Lauren especially. She would just lay in her swing and moan. They love their Praise Baby DVD and watched it about 10 times, since it was about all they and I were up for.

That's about all I have to report. I'm hoping that we'll be close to normal again by the end of the weekend. I'll keep you posted.

Play dates!

We had some special visitors this week. On Wednesday, Landon Haffner and his mommy, Crystal, stopped by. Landon was born mid-August, just over a month before the girls.

When Lauren woke up from her nap, she was immediately making eyes at Landon. How could you not with a smile like that?! He is so cute!

On Thursday, my new friend, Sarah and her TWIN girls, came over for the afternoon. They are just over 2 months older than my girls.

It's amazing to think Lauren and Jillian will be sitting up and scooting around like Hannah and Lucy in just a few short months. I kicked myself after she left, because I forgot to grab my camera and get a few shots of them in action. But, I'm sure that was the first of many play dates with the Hittle girls.

Enjoy these pics of Landon, Lauren and Jillian!

Some cute pics...

No news to report. Just a few pictures to share. That's all you really want anyway, right?